"Don't Leave Me"

I'm a volunteer at an elementary school. We just out a new first grader. He was found recently locked outside of a hotel. Mom abandoned him and is now in prison. He's never been to school, doesn't know his letters or even his own name. So I work with him one-on-one in the hallway whenever I can. I worked with him yesterday We were playing a game about letters when he says he's thirsty.

So I told him he could get a drink. The water fountain is at the end of the hallway, around a corner.

His eyes got wide and he asked "over there?" pointing toward the water fountain. I told him yes, it's just around that corner. He says "ALL the way over there?"

So I say yes, it's on the other side of that wall. I reassure him hat it's ok, he's allowed to go over there.

He stand up and hesitated before saying "don't leave me"

I tell him that I won't, that I'll wait here for him to get back. He asks me to promise, so I do.

As he walks to the water fountain, every 3 or so steps, he looks back over his shoulder and yells back "Don't leave! Don't leave me!"

I've only known him for two days, and worked with him for a total of two hours. My heart just breaks for him though. He's been through so much in seven years